Eric Saucier brings experienced leadership to a Bow team ready to compete for the Division II boys’ basketball championship this upcoming season. After spending 19 years in total with Conant and 16 as head coach, he led the Orioles to nine final four appearances and seven finals.

Under Saucier, Conant won five D-III championships of those seven finals, most recently in 2019. His teams were always characterized by strong defense and gritty energy to win even in the closest games.

“My philosophy has not changed in all my years. I stick to four things. I stick to respect, discipline, hard work and defense, that’s it. If you do those four things, you’re going to be a successful program either way. So that’s what we started to incorporate at Bow, and the kids are buying in, and they’re working really hard,” he said.

The Falcons finished their season with a 13-7 record and fell to Hanover in the quarterfinal, 51-34. They allowed 50.1 points per game across their 22 regular and playoff games, indicating that shoring up their defensive gaps would be the focus for this upcoming season.

Meanwhile, they scored 53.4 points per game across the same span – a 3-pointer and change difference between a win or a loss.

“Losing in the quarterfinals last year, and returning four starters, the team is looking to advance further in the tournament this year. In order to do that the team knows it will need to defend and take care of the little things more than they did last year,” Saucier said. “With a new coach and a new system, it will take time, but the outlook is promising.”

When their offensive output was poor, their defense was, at times, too porous to create points off turnovers and on the fast break. He has begun to drill his ideas into the team but change does not happen overnight and Saucier understands that it will take a few games for the team to truly get into the new rhythm.

“Goal one was to come in set the philosophy and set the tone of we’re going to play hard and we’re going to play hard all the time. Not playing hard is not going to be acceptable, and the guys are doing that in practice now,” said Saucier. “Step two was now we have to learn how to guard and not guard individually. We have to learn how to play team defense and the philosophies that I have in the schemes that I want.”

He wants the Falcons to give it their all for entire games and continue to improve. Fortunately for him, Bow has an experienced core already playing at a high level.

Bow’s Jake Reardon, Brendan O’Keeffe and Peyton Larrabee all started as freshmen three years ago. Last season, Reardon was Second Team All-State and O’Keeffe was an Honorable Mention, and with plenty of time left in their high school careers, they will continue to improve. They have the physical attributes and talent, and with Saucier at the helm, they can elevate their game on both ends.

“Defensively, we have size and we have athleticism. That’s one thing that’s beneficial that’s gonna help the defensive scheme, we’re gonna get after people,” he said.

CONCORD

Division: I

Coach: Tim LaTorra (3rd year)

Last year: 3-15, did not make tournament.

Top newcomers: JD Nkurunziza, jr.; Jackson Harerimana, jr.; Tommy Weaver, jr.; Alex Turant, jr.

Outlook: Only two of the 15 players from last season’s varsity roster are returning. Neither Holden Martin, the team’s only senior, nor junior Sammy Iranzi were starting players, but “Both players will be asked to increase their roles, which I know they are both excited about,” LaTorra said.

“With so many new and young players we can finally begin the rebuild process,” LaTorra said. “A change in culture and expectations, a change in offensive and defensive philosophy, and so many young players in the program will allow our program to grow. We have a plan in place that will hopefully get us to where we want to be over the next few years. Right now we are at the foundational level and our players understand that, and are excited to begin this process.”

Teams to beat: Bedford, Manchester Memorial, Keene, Nashua South, Trinity.

BISHOP BRADY

Division: II

Coach: John Billings (2nd year)

Last year: 0-18, did not make tournament.

Returning starters: Ryan Casey, jr., F; Owen Thornton, sr., F; Alex Pelletier, jr., G; Dan Shedd, jr., F; James Horangic, jr., F; Dylan Dubrueil, jr., F; Jake Blanchette, jr., G.

Top newcomers: Emmanuel Boko, sr., G; Buddy Hayes, fr., G; Cooper Hand, fr., F; Hayden LaFleur, jr., F.

Outlook: The Giants are looking to improve after finishing last season winless. Brady is bolstered by the return of Boko, who transferred back to the Giants after playing last season at Concord.

“Players have worked hard this preseason and we will continue to work hard and engage in the process of getting better,” Billings said.

Teams to beat: Bow, Pelham, Pembroke.

COE-BROWN

Division: II

Coach: David Smith (37th year)

Last year: 16-5, reached semifinals.

Returning starters: James McKane, sr., G; Ryan Kouchoukos, sr., G; Jack Matson, sr., C.

Outlook: The Bears return six players and three starters from last year’s team that made a run to the final four, narrowly losing to eventual champions Pelham, 59-56.

“We will not be overwhelming anyone with our height, but we have big hearts with speed and quickness,” Smith said. “To be successful on offense and defense we need to use those three things daily. All area teams will be extremely competitive and we are looking forward for a fun season.”

JOHN STARK

Division: II

Coach: Mike Smith (25th year)

Last year: 6-12, did not make tournament.

Returning starters: Hayden Pond, sr., G; Aiden Harris, jr., F; Joey Dykstra, sr., F.

Top newcomers: Avery Grolljahn, jr., G; Austin Patenaude, jr., F; Desmond Bogle, fr., G.

Outlook: After finishing last season one win shy of qualifying for the playoffs, the Generals are eager to get back on the court.

“We have a great mix of returning starters, players with expanded roles (senior forward Cam Carpenter, sophomore guard Carter Geaumont, senior guard Cedar Beaupre and senior forward Noah Redman), as well as some eager new players,” Smith said. “We don’t have a lot of size, so we’ll be tested on the glass, but our energy has been great early and I really like how the kids are playing as a team. There is a lot of confidence in our seven returning players and I think that each of them will expand on what they were able to do last season. We just missed playoffs last season and I know these guys really want to be the group that brings us back to that level.”

Teams to beat: “It will be a challenge given the overall strength of the division this season.”

MERRIMACK VALLEY

Division: II

Coach: Kelly O’Brien (1st year)

Last year: 9-11, reached quarterfinals.

Returning starters: Aiden Gray, sr., G; Nic Oglesby, sr., F; Boston Bradicich, sr., C.

Top newcomers: Ethan Dukette, jr., G; Brady Smith, jr., G; Thatcher Stearn, jr., G.

Outlook: Coach O’Brien, son of longtime MVHS athletic director and coach Kevin O’Brien, takes over a Pride squad that pulled off one of the biggest upsets of last year’s tournament. No. 11 MV upset No. 6 Laconia in the preliminary round before bowing out to Pembroke in the quarterfinals.

“The season is off to a great start. The boys are working hard everyday in practice and are enthusiastic about the season,” O’Brien said. “A strong core of JV players from last year are ready to make their varsity debuts. Leadership, both on and off the court, from our upperclassmen will continue to be one of our team strengths as the season goes on.”

Teams to beat: “Everybody in D-II,” according to O’Brien.

PEMBROKE

Division: II

Coach: Mike Donnell (3rd year)

Last year: 18-3, reached semifinals.

Returning starters: Andrew Fitzgerald, so.; Evan Berkeley, sr.; Devin Riel, sr.

Top newcomers: Jackson Tanguay, jr.

Outlook: After finishing as the D-II runner-up in 2022-23 and losing in the semifinals last season, the Spartans have one goal – to win the championship.

“I believe we can accomplish that if everyone buys in and worries about ‘our points’, not ‘my points,’ Donnell said.

Pembroke has seven seniors, led by co-captains Berkeley and Riel, and eight or nine players who could start on other varsity teams, creating a competitive practices as players fight for more minutes on the floor.

Berkeley is a “spot on shooter,” according to Donnell and has been working on improving his defense, while Riel is a strong defensive player and scoring threat in the paint. Fitzgerald is a “pure scorer” and excellent two-way player, while juniors Colin Dube and Connor Craig are also strong shooters. Seniors PJ Regnier and Aidyn Jeski give the Spartans some size and post scoring. Junior Zach Bemis is a strong ball handler off the bench and senior Brady Boisvert is strong on the defensive end. Junior Javien Sinclair can start or be a sixth man, bringing size, strength and the ability to change the course of a game quickly.

“The potential is there for a memorable season but it’s one game at a time,” Donnell said. “We have been pushing our players to excel and they just ask for more. This is a special group of young men.”

Teams to beat: Bow, Pelham, Sanborn, Merrimack Valley, Souhegan.

BELMONT

Division: III

Coach: Tony Martinez (3rd year)

Last year: 12-8, reached quarterfinals.

Returning starters: Keegan Martinez, sr., F, 6-6; Anakin Underhill, sr., F/C, 6-7; Brody Ennis, so., G/F, 6-4; Wyatt Carroll, jr., PG/SG, 5-9; Brady Thurber, sr., SG, 5-9; Michael Collette, sr., SG/F, 5-11; Brady Fysh, jr., SG/F, 5-9.

Top newcomers: Treshawn Ray, so., PG, 5-10; Owen Viar, so., F, 6-1; Jack Binder, so., PG/SG, 5-9; Wyatt Divers, jr., F, 6-1; Nate Allard, sr., G/F, 5-10; Wyatt Bamford, so., F, 6-1; Dom Woods, sr., F, 6-2.

Outlook: “We have an experienced and talented returning core, led by our senior group,” coach Martinez said. “Our younger players and newcomers have jumped right in and have filled any spots we have needed them to with great energy and enthusiasm. The goal this season is to manage the expectations and play each game like it’s our last.”

Teams to beat: Kearsarge, Mascoma, St. Thomas, Gilford, Campbell.

HILLSBORO-DEERING

Division: III

Coach: Chris Davies (4th year)

Last year: 1-16, did not make tournament.

Returning starters: Alex Crowe, jr., 5-11; Ethan Franklin, jr., 5-8; Tony Harris, jr., 6-1; Dan Richards, jr., 6-0.

Outlook: A relatively young team only won a game a year ago, but return more experienced this season.

“This year we are junior heavy on the varsity team,” Davies said. “We are fast and have a deep bench. JV is looking promising. We have a deep bench as well. Looking forward to seeing what these guys can do.”

HOPKINTON

Division: III

Coach: Liam McNicholas (1st year)

Last year: 12-6, reached quarterfinals.

Returning starters: Noah Aframe, sr.; Will Chehade, sr.

Top newcomers: Tommy Dwyer, fr.

Outlook: McNicholas moves into the head coaching role after previously assisting with the Hawks and has 11 returning varsity players and seven seniors to work with.

“Experience is going to be a major key for our success. Aframe and Chehade are returning starters, and will take on increased roles this year,” McNicholas said. “We have seven seniors and their leadership will be huge for not only the other guys, but me as a new varsity coach. This senior class that has played basketball together for 10-plus years. Our chemistry and confidence in each other are the foundation of the program. We graduated three starters, including our leading scorer, so the team has lofty shoes to fill, but they’re ready and willing to do so. We’re going to surprise teams this season with our depth and pace.”

Aframe is a third-year captain and three-time All-State All-Defensive Team selection, while rookie Dwyer is another player to watch with a basketball IQ that is “off the charts,” according to McNicholas.

Teams to beat: St. Thomas, Kearsage, Mascoma, Conant, Belmont.

KEARSARGE

Division: III

Coach: Nate Camp (16th year)

Last year: 17-4, reached semifinals.

Returning starters: Noah Whipple, sr., G; Austin Needham, sr., G; Ajay Tremblay, sr., G.

Top newcomers: Davin Boehle, jr., F; Blake Grieco, jr., F; Mason Christensen, jr., G; Carter Wheeler, jr., G; Mason Prescott, so., G; Blake LaMothe, so., F.

Outlook: The Cougars have made the final four in six of the last nine seasons and are eager to get back after a narrow 35-30 loss to top-ranked Conant in the semifinals last year.

“We need to defend and rebound extremely well each night, as well as play with a high level of intensity,” Camp said. “These are always hustle stats, which tells me we are working hard at both ends of the court. ... Our goal is to get back (to the final four) and finish what we started. Again, it’s the journey not the destination, so we need to pay attention to details and daily improvement, especially on the defensive end of the court if we want to reach that goal. … We have a lot of experience back from last season, as well as solid leadership to help guide us on this journey.”

Teams to beat: St.Thomas, Mascoma, Belmont, Fall Mountain, Raymond, Gilford.

WINNISQUAM

Division: III

Coach: Kevin Dame (14th year)

Last year: 5-11, did not make tournament.

Returning starters: Ethan Poole, jr., F; Jacob Twombly, sr., G; Justin Tardiff, sr., G.

Top newcomers: Dio Katsigiannis, jr., G; Carter Lloyd, fr., G; Travis Tibbetts, so., F.

Outlook: The Bears graduated six seniors, five of whom regularly started.

“We have a young hard working group that will look to get better every day,” Dame said. “We will need to play solid defense to get our transition game going.”

Teams to beat: St. Thomas, Belmont, Gilford, Kearsarge.